39 U.S. Code § 3626 - Reduced rates

(1)Except as otherwise provided in this section, rates of postage for a class of mail or kind of mailer under former section
4358,
4452(b),
4452(c),
4554(b), or
4554(c) of this title shall be established in accordance with section
3622.

(2)For the purpose of this subsection, the term “regular-rate category” means any class of mail or kind of mailer, other than a class or kind referred to in section
2401(c).

(3)Rates of postage for a class of mail or kind of mailer under former section
4358(a) through (c) of this title shall be established so that postage on each mailing of such mail reflects its preferred status as compared to the postage for the most closely corresponding regular-rate category mailing.

(4)

(A)Except as specified in subparagraph (B), rates of postage for a class of mail or kind of mailer under former section
4358 (d) or (e) of this title shall be established so that postage on each mailing of such mail shall be as nearly as practicable 5 percent lower than the postage for a corresponding regular-rate category mailing.

(B)With respect to the postage for the advertising pound portion of any mail matter under former section
4358 (d) or (e) of this title, the 5-percent discount specified in subparagraph (A) shall not apply if the advertising portion exceeds 10 percent of the publication involved.

(5)The rates for any advertising under former section
4358(f) of this title shall be equal to 75 percent of the rates for advertising contained in the most closely corresponding regular-rate category of mail.

(6)The rates for mail matter under former sections
4452 (b) and (c) of this title shall be established as follows:

(A)The estimated average revenue per piece to be received by the Postal Service from each subclass of mail under former sections
4452 (b) and (c) of this title shall be equal, as nearly as practicable, to 60 percent of the estimated average revenue per piece to be received from the most closely corresponding regular-rate subclass of mail.

(B)For purposes of subparagraph (A), the estimated average revenue per piece of each regular-rate subclass shall be calculated on the basis of expected volumes and mix of mail for such subclass at current rates in the test year of the proceeding.

(C)Rate differentials within each subclass of mail matter under former sections
4452 (b) and (c) shall reflect the policies of this title, including the factors set forth in section
3622(b) of this title.

(7)The rates for mail matter under former sections
4554 (b) and (c) of this title shall be established so that postage on each mailing of such mail shall be as nearly as practicable 5 percent lower than the postage for a corresponding regular-rate mailing.

(b)

(1)For the purposes of this title, the term “periodical publications”, as used in former section
4351 of this title, includes

(A) any catalog or other course listing, including mail announcements of legal texts which are part of post-bar admission education issued by any institution of higher education or by a nonprofit organization engaged in continuing legal education; and

(B) any looseleaf page or report (including any index, instruction for filing, table, or sectional identifier which is an integral part of such report) which is designed as part of a looseleaf reporting service concerning developments in the law or public policy.

(2)Any material described in paragraph (1) of this subsection shall qualify to be entered and mailed as second class mail in accordance with the applicable provisions of former section
4352 through former section
4357 of this title.

(3)For purposes of this subsection, the term “institution of higher education” has the meaning given it by section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, and includes a nonprofit organization that coordinates a network of college-level courses that is sponsored primarily by nonprofit educational institutions for an older adult constituency.

(c)In the administration of this section, one conservation publication published by an agency of a State which is responsible for management and conservation of the fish or wildlife resources of such State shall be considered a publication of a qualified nonprofit organization which qualifies for rates of postage under former section
4358(d) of this title.

(d)

(1)For purposes of this title, the term “agricultural”, as used in former sections
4358(j)(2),
4452(d), and
4554(b)(1)(B) of this title, includes the art or science of cultivating land, harvesting crops or marine resources, or raising of livestock.

(2)In the administration of this section, and for purposes of former sections
4358(j)(2),
4452(d), and
4554(b)(1)(B) of this title, agricultural organizations or associations shall include any organization or association which collects and disseminates information or materials relating to agricultural pursuits.

(e)

(1)In the administration of this section, the rates for third-class mail matter mailed by a qualified political committee shall be the rates currently in effect under former section
4452 of this title for third-class mail matter mailed by a qualified nonprofit organization.

(2)For purposes of this subsection—

(A)the term “qualified political committee” means a national or State committee of a political party, the Republican and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committees, the Democratic National Congressional Committee, and the National Republican Congressional Committee;

(B)the term “national committee” means the organization which, by virtue of the bylaws of a political party, is responsible for the day-to-day operation of such political party at the national level; and

(C)the term “State committee” means the organization which, by virtue of the bylaws of a political party, is responsible for the day-to-day operation of such political party at the State level.

(f)In the administration of this chapter, the rates for mail under former section
4358(g) of this title shall be established without regard to either the provisions of such former section
4358(g) or the provisions of this section.

(g)

(1)In the administration of this section, the rates for mail under subsections (a), (b), and (c) of former section
4358 of this title shall not apply to an issue of a publication if the number of copies of such issue distributed within the county of publication is less than the number equal to the sum of 50 percent of the total paid circulation of such issue plus one.

(2)Paragraph (1) of this subsection shall not apply to an issue of a publication if the total paid circulation of such issue is less than 10,000 copies.

(3)For purposes of this section and former section
4358(a) through (c) of this title, those copies of an issue of a publication entered within the county in which it is published, but distributed outside such county on postal carrier routes originating in the county of publication, shall be treated as if they were distributed within the county of publication.

(4)

(A)In the case of an issue of a publication, any number of copies of which are mailed at the rates of postage for a class of mail or kind of mailer under former section
4358(a) through (c) of this title, any copies of such issue which are distributed outside the county of publication (excluding any copies subject to paragraph (3)) shall be subject to rates of postage provided for under this paragraph.

(B)The rates of postage applicable to mail under this paragraph shall be established in accordance with section
3622.

(C)This paragraph shall not apply with respect to an issue of a publication unless the total paid circulation of such issue outside the county of publication (not counting recipients of copies subject to paragraph (3)) is less than 5,000.

(h)In the administration of this section, the number of copies of a subscription publication mailed to nonsubscribers during a calendar year at rates under subsections (a), (b), and (c) of former section
4358 of this title may not exceed 10 percent of the number of copies of such publication mailed at such rates to subscribers.

(1)In the administration of this section, the rates for mail under former section
4452(b) or
4452(c) of this title shall not apply to mail which advertises, promotes, offers, or, for a fee or consideration, recommends, describes, or announces the availability of—

(A)any credit, debit, or charge card, or similar financial instrument or account, provided by or through an arrangement with any person or organization not authorized to mail at the rates for mail under former section
4452(b) or
4452(c) of this title;

(B)any insurance policy, unless the organization which promotes the purchase of such policy is authorized to mail at the rates for mail under former section
4452(b) or
4452(c) of this title, the policy is designed for and primarily promoted to the members, donors, supporters, or beneficiaries of the organization, and the coverage provided by the policy is not generally otherwise commercially available;

(C)any travel arrangement, unless the organization which promotes the arrangement is authorized to mail at the rates for mail under former section
4452(b) or
4452(c) of this title, the travel contributes substantially (aside from the cultivation of members, donors, or supporters, or the acquisition of income or funds) to one or more of the purposes which constitutes the basis for the organization’s authorization to mail at such rates, and the arrangement is designed for and primarily promoted to the members, donors, supporters, or beneficiaries of the organization; or

(D)any product or service (other than any to which subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) relates), if—

(i)the sale of such product or the providing of such service is not substantially related (aside from the need, on the part of the organization promoting such product or service, for income or funds or the use it makes of the profits derived) to the exercise or performance by the organization of one or more of the purposes constituting the basis for the organization’s authorization to mail at such rates; or

(ii)the mail matter involved is part of a cooperative mailing (as defined under regulations of the Postal Service) with any person or organization not authorized to mail at the rates for mail under former section
4452(b) or
4452(c) of this title;

except that—

(I)any determination under clause (i) that a product or service is not substantially related to a particular purpose shall be made under regulations which shall be prescribed by the Postal Service and which shall be consistent with standards established by the Internal Revenue Service and the courts with respect to subsections (a) and (c) ofsection
513 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and

(II)clause (i) shall not apply if the product involved is a periodical publication described in subsection (m)(2) (including a subscription to receive any such publication); and

(III)clause (i) shall not apply to space advertising in mail matter that otherwise qualifies for rates under former section
4452(b) or
4452(c) of this title, and satisfies the content requirements established by the Postal Service for periodical publications: Provided, That such changes in law shall take effect immediately and shall stay in effect hereafter unless the Congress enacts legislation on this matter prior to October 1, 1995.

(2)Matter shall not be excluded from being mail at the rates for mail under former section
4452(b) or
4452(c) of this title, by an organization authorized to mail at those rates solely because—

(A)such matter contains, but is not primarily devoted to, acknowledgements of organizations or individuals who have made donations to the authorized organization; or

(B)such matter contains, but is not primarily devoted to, references to and a response card or other instructions for making inquiries concerning services or benefits available as a result of membership in the authorized organization: Provided, That advertising, promotional, or application materials specifically concerning such services or benefits are not included.

(3)

(A)Upon request, an organization authorized to mail at the rates for mail under former section
4452(b) or
4452(c) of this title shall furnish evidence to the Postal Service concerning the eligibility of any of its mail matter or mailings to be sent at those rates.

(B)The Postal Service shall establish procedures to carry out this paragraph, including procedures for mailer certification of compliance with the conditions specified in paragraph (1)(D) or subsection (m), as applicable, and verification of such compliance.

(k)

(1)No person or organization shall mail, or cause to be mailed by contractual agreement or otherwise, at the rates for mail under former section
4452(b) or
4452(c) of this title, any matter to which those rates do not apply.

(2)The Postal Service may assess a postage deficiency in the amount of the unpaid postage against any person or organization which violates paragraph (1) of this subsection. This assessment shall be deemed the final decision of the Postal Service, unless the party against whom the deficiency is assessed appeals it in writing within thirty days to the postmaster of the office where the mailing was entered. Such an appeal shall be considered by an official designated by the Postal Service, other than the postmaster of the office where the mailing was entered, who shall issue a decision as soon as practicable. This decision shall be deemed final unless the party against whom the deficiency was assessed appeals it in writing within thirty days to a further reviewing official designated by the Postal Service, who shall issue the final decision on the matter.

(3)The Postal Service shall maintain procedures for the prompt collection of postage deficiencies arising from the violation of paragraph (1) of this subsection, and may in its discretion, follow the issuance of a final decision regarding a deficiency under paragraph (2) of this subsection deduct the amount of that deficiency incurred during the previous 12 months from any postage accounts or other monies of the violator in its possession.

(l)In the administration of this section, the term “advertising”, as used in former section
4358(j)(2) of this title, does not include the publisher’s own advertising in a publication published by the official highway or development agency of a State.

(m)

(1)In the administration of this section, the rates for mail under former section
4452(b) or
4452(c) of this title shall not apply to mail consisting of products, unless such products—

(2)Paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to a periodical publication of a qualified nonprofit organization.

(n)In the administration of this section, matter that satisfies the circulation standards for requester publications shall not be excluded from being mailed at the rates for mail under former section
4358 solely because such matter is designed primarily for free circulation or for circulation at nominal rates, or fails to meet the requirements of former section
4354(a)(5).

Former sections
4351 to
4358,
4452, and
4554 of this title, referred to in text, mean those sections which were classified to former Title 39, The Postal Service, prior to the general revision and reenactment of Title 39 by Pub. L. 91–375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 719.

Section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, referred to in subsec. (b)(3), is classified to section
1001 of Title
20, Education.

Section 513 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, referred to in subsecs. (j)(1)(D)(I) and (m)(1)(B), is classified to section
513 of Title
26, Internal Revenue Code.

The phrase “shall take effect immediately and shall stay in effect hereafter”, referred to in subsec. (j)(1)(D)(III), probably means that the provision shall take effect Sept. 30, 1994, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 103–329, which enacted subsec. (j)(1)(D)(III), and shall stay in effect after that date.

Amendments

2006—Subsec. (a)(1) to (3). Pub. L. 109–435, § 1003(1), added pars. (1) to (3) and struck out former pars. (1) to (3). Prior to amendment, par. (1) required rates of postage for a class of mail or kind of mailer under former section
4358,
4452(b),
4452(c),
4554(b), or
4554(c) of this title to be established in accordance with the applicable provisions of this chapter, par. (2) defined “costs attributable”, “regular-rate category”, and “institutional-costs contribution”, and par. (3) required rates of postage for a class of mail or kind of mailer under former section
4358 of this title to be established in a manner such that the estimated revenues to be received by the Postal Service from such class of mail or kind of mailer were equal to certain calculated amounts.

Subsec. (a)(3)(A). Pub. L. 106–384, § 1(b), amended subpar. (A) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (A) read as follows: “Except as provided in paragraph (4) or (5), rates of postage for a class of mail or kind of mailer under former section
4358,
4452(b),
4452(c),
4554(b), or
4554(c) of this title shall be established in a manner such that the estimated revenues to be received by the Postal Service from such class of mail or kind of mailer shall be equal to the sum of—

“(i) the estimated costs attributable to such class of mail or kind of mailer; and

“(ii) the product derived by multiplying the estimated costs referred to in clause (i) by the applicable percentage under subparagraph (B).”

Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 106–384, § 1(c), amended par. (4) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (4) read as follows: “The rates for the advertising portion of any mail matter under former section
4358(d) or
4358(e) of this title shall be equal to the rates for the advertising portion of the most closely corresponding regular-rate category of mail, except that if the advertising portion does not exceed 10 percent of the issue of the publication involved, the advertising portion shall be subject to the same rates as apply to the nonadvertising portion.”

1996—Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 104–255inserted before period “, and includes a nonprofit organization that coordinates a network of college-level courses that is sponsored primarily by nonprofit educational institutions for an older adult constituency”.

“(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, rates of postage for a class of mail or kind of mailer under former section
4358,
4452(b),
4452(c),
4554(b), or
4554(c) of this title shall be established in accordance with applicable provisions of this chapter.

“(2) Rates of postage for a class of mail or kind of mailer referred to in paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be established in accordance with the requirement that the direct and indirect postal costs attributable to such class of mail or kind of mailer (excluding any other costs of the Postal Service) shall be borne by such class of mail or kind of mailer, as the case may be: Provided, however, That with respect to mail under former section
4452(b) and
4452(c) of this title the preceding limitation shall apply only to rates of postage for letter shaped pieces, as such pieces are defined in the associated classification and rate schedules.”

1991—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 102–141amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: “Rates of postage for a class of mail or kind of mailer referred to in paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be established in accordance with the requirement that the direct and indirect postal costs attributable to such class of mail or kind of mailer (excluding any other costs of the Postal Service) shall be borne by such class of mail or kind of mailer, as the case may be.”

Subsec. (i)(2). Pub. L. 102–141inserted “Subject to the requirements of section
2401(c) of this title and paragraph (a)(2) of this section with respect to mail under former sections
4452(b) and
4452(c) of this title,” before “This subsection”.

1986—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99–272, § 15102(b)(1), amended subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (a) read as follows: “If the rates of postage for any class of mail or kind of mailer under former sections
4358,
4359,
4421,
4422,
4452, or
4554 of this title, as such rates existed on the effective date of this subchapter, are, on the effective date of the first rate decision under this subchapter affecting that class or kind, less than the rates established by such decision, a separate rate schedule shall be adopted for that class or kind effective each time rates are established or changed under this subchapter, with annual increases as nearly equal as practicable, so that—

“(1) the revenues received from rates for mail under former sections
4358,
4452(b) and (c),
4554(b) and (c) shall not, on and after the first day of the sixteenth year following the effective date of the first rate decision applicable to that class or kind, exceed the direct and indirect postal costs attributable to mail of such class or kind (excluding all other costs of the Postal Service);

“(2) the rates for mail under former sections
4359,
4421,
4422, and
4554(a) shall be equal, on and after the first day of the eighth year following the effective date of the first rate decision applicable to that class or kind, to the rates that would have been in effect for such mail if this subparagraph had not been enacted; and

“(3) the rates for mail under former section
4452(a) shall be equal, on and after the first day of the fifth year following the effective date of the first rate decision applicable to that class or kind, to the rates that would have been in effect for such mail if this subparagraph had not been enacted.

No person who would have been entitled to mail matter under former section
4359 of this title shall mail such matter at the rates provided under this subsection unless he files annually with the Postal Service a written request for permission to mail matter at such rates.”

1974—Pub. L. 93–328substituted “sixteenth” for “tenth” year in subpar. (1), substituted “under former sections” for “under sections”, “eighth” for “fifth” year, and “subparagraph” for “subsection” and struck out reference to section “4452(a)” after “4422,” in subpar. (2), and added subpar. (3).

Pub. L. 103–123, title VII, § 704(c)(1),Oct. 28, 1993, 107 Stat. 1270, provided that: “The amendments made by subsection (a) [enacting section
3642 of this title and amending this section and section
3627 of this title] shall apply with respect to rates for mail sent after September 30, 1993.”

Pub. L. 103–123, title VII, § 705(d),Oct. 28, 1993, 107 Stat. 1272, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall apply with respect to mail sent, and the rates for mail sent, after December 31, 1993.”

Pub. L. 99–509, title VI, § 6003(c),Oct. 21, 1986, 100 Stat. 1933, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section and section
2401 of this title] shall take effect on January 1, 1989, or on the effective date of the next general change in rates and fees under sections
3622 and
3625 of title
39, United States Code [Apr. 3, 1988, see 53 F.R. 10014], whichever is sooner.”

Pub. L. 104–52, title V, § 527,Nov. 19, 1995, 109 Stat. 496, provided that: “For mail classification purposes under section
3626 of title
39, United States Code, and any regulations of the United States Postal Service for the administration of that section, a weekly second-class periodical publication which—

“(i) is eligible to publish legal notices under any applicable laws of the State where it is published;

“(ii) is eligible to be mailed at the rates for mail under former subsection 4358(a), (b), and (c) of title 39, United States Code, as limited by current subsection 3626(g) of that title; and

“(iii) the pages of which were customarily secured by 2 staples before March 19, 1989;

shall not be considered to be a bound publication solely because its pages continue to be secured by 2 staples after that date.”

“(a) In General.—The United States Postal Service may forbear from the collection of any postage deficiency assessed against an organization authorized to mail at the rates for mail under former section
4452(b) or
4452(c) of title
39, United States Code, if the assessment of that deficiency arises from a violation of the cooperative mailing regulations of the Postal Service set forth at section
625.5 of the Domestic Mail Manual, and the Postal Service has made no determination that the organization knowingly or willfully violated such regulations. If any organizations authorized to mail at the rates for mail under former section
4452(b) or
4452(c) of title
39, United States Code, has paid on its own behalf all or part of a postage deficiency which the Postal Service would forbear from collecting under this section, the Postal Service may refund to that organization the amount which it has paid.

“(b) Effective Date and Applicability.—The provisions of this section shall become effective on the date of enactment of this Act [Nov. 5, 1990], and shall apply to mailings which were sent on or between July 1, 1986, and the effective date of this section.”

Construction Respecting Postage Rates Reduction Unauthorized

Pub. L. 93–328, § 2,June 30, 1974, 88 Stat. 288, provided that: “Nothing in section 1 of this Act [amending this section] shall be construed to authorize a reduction in any rate of postage in effect and being paid on the date of enactment of this Act [June 30, 1974].”